Author Archives: michael

Machine Shop Paradise in Guelph

As part of Doors Open 2010, Guelph channelled its inner Stuttgart with tours at the Linamar Corporation.

Posted in Cities, Doors Open | Leave a comment

My Life as a ‘Doors Open’ Tourist

Doors Open events are all about community. This community focus should also apply to how people get to far-flung sites. A communal approach to transportation would make Doors Open touring more environmentally-friendly and more fun as well.

Posted in Cities, Doors Open | 1 Comment

Urban destruction in the heart of Brantford, Ontario

In Brantford, I happened to stumble upon what might be one the most flagrant instances of urban vandalism in the province. I confidently categorize it as vandalism because it doesn’t appear, from what I have read, to make any sense whatsoever. They are taking down something of great value and replacing it with nothing at all.

Posted in Cities | 10 Comments

Peak Oil Days at 120 Breadalbane!

We are in the unusual position of having a nearly-full oil tank and only a few days to consume the oil in it. We have responded–not too responsibly–by cranking up the thermostat! But given the circumstances we don’t feel too guilty about turning our house, briefly, into a mini Alberta-tar-sands-style carbon emitter.

Posted in Green | Leave a comment

Dogs on Roof, Hamilton

Two dogs get some fresh air and exercise on the roof of a front porch to a modest townhouse in a poor neighbourhood of Hamilton.

Posted in Cities, Hamilton | Leave a comment

The subtle rewards of violin practice

You can’t really force a child to have a genuine interest in a musical instrument. You have to lead them to that goal indirectly.

Posted in Child-rearing, Hamilton | Leave a comment

The Militarization of Play

Most boys love weapons. Cross-bows, battle axes, harpoons, guns: they can’t get enough of them. The latest implements of war to be installed in our house are a full complement of Nerf guns.

Posted in Peace | Leave a comment

Pressure cookers and their role in greenhouse gas reduction

People might think that trading in their gas-guzzler for a Prius would be a good way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. However, there is a simpler and less expensive way of achieving similar reductions: eating less meat and using a pressure cooker to cook legumes.

Posted in Green | Leave a comment

Afghanistan: escalate at your own risk

A basic lack of legitimacy is what makes the Afghan war so difficult to pursue and what makes it such a hard sell to American allies: it just doesn’t make much sense. A fight against Al-Qaeda has morphed into a fight against an anti-modern but essentially nationalistic enemy in the Taliban. This is why parallels to the Vietnam war seem more and more appropriate

Posted in Peace | Leave a comment

Pittsburgh and its Golden Triangle

Pittsburgh has an unusual urban configuration in that its central business district–the Golden Triangle–is relatively isolated from the rest of the city. The Triangle is where the two rivers meet to form the mighty Ohio. As we told the boys, this is where in the old days people drifted lazily down the river–Huck Finn style–all the way to the Gulf of Mexico.

Posted in Cities, Pittsburgh | 2 Comments